The next morning Summer and Marissa arrived at work a little worse for wear only to be greeted by Jake standing arms crossed in front of Marissa's dressing room.

"And just where were you last night?" he demanded. He had made plans for them and he was getting tied of not getting his own way.

"It's not really any of your business, but I stayed at Summer's. Since when do I need permission to see my friends?" Marissa replied thinking she'd had just about enough of him.

Oops, he could tell that maybe he had overstepped the mark here. However, he wasn't used to getting the run around. "I waited breakfast for you and then tried calling over and over to see if you needed a lift to work". He didn't bother to tell her that he had ordered a special candlelit dinner for them both in his room last night that ended up going to waste when he couldn't track her down. "I really think you should give me your cell phone number so this doesn't happen again".

"There's really no point because I rarely have it with me." she kept her fingers crossed behind her back as she lied to him. The last thing she needed was for him to have her number. She didn't want him annoying her anymore than he already did. "I need to go and get ready. See you Sum." And she walked into her dressing room and closed the door behind her.

As Summer started to walk off, Jake looked her over and then stopped her. "Summer."

"Yeah." She turned to look at him.

"Are you still going out with that weird, geeky guy?" Jake asked.

"If you mean Seth, then yes." Summer replied, wishing she had made a quick getaway and wasn't here having this conversation.

"Will he be coming to cast drinks tomorrow night?"

"Probably. Why?"

"Pity. I was just imagining you, me and Marissa in a three way" he suggested, raising his eyebrows as he spoke. "It could be very enjoyable."

As if Summer didn't feel bad enough already with her hangover, the mere thought of it made her upchuck reflex twitch and she knew she had to get to the bathroom in a hurry.

As she flew down the hall, Jake just shrugged his shoulders and muttered to himself "Strange girl that one. Looks like Marissa will have to be enough. She better be ready for a workout cause my little man hasn't seen any action for a while and I'm planning on fixing that. Tomorrow after I get her plied at cast drinks she won't be able to resist me".

---

Seth walked out of the lift and walked up to the immaculate desk in front of him.

The beautiful redhead behind the desk looked up and smiled. "Good morning Mr Cohen. How may I help you?"

"Annabel, I've told you before Mr Cohen is my father. Please call me Seth."

"Yes sir. I mean Seth."

"Is he in?"

"Yes. I'll just let him know you're here."

"Don't bother. Even though he pretends he doesn't like my surprise drop ins, he really does. I'll just see myself through."

Seth opened the connecting door and Ryan looked up and quickly put down the paper he was reading. As he did he looked down and then reached over and folded it closed so you couldn't see what he had been looking at.

"Hey bro" Seth smiled at still being able to surprise Ryan after all these years.

"Seth. I should have guessed. To what do I owe this honour? It's a little early for your standard office drop in." Ryan stated." You know the fresh muffins don't arrive til ten."

"Yeah. But I promised Summer I would come and see you first thing and 'She Who Must Be Obeyed' kicked me out of home when they were leaving for the studio."

"Who they?" Ryan puzzled.

"Little Miss Vixen and Cosmo Girl."

"What Marissa stayed the night?"

"Yeah. Turns out we were all a little tipsy from drinking too much wine while waiting for a certain someone that didn't show."

"Sorry about that. I had some VIP's here that I just couldn't get rid of. They were trying to get me to take on a new project. I was going to call Summer later and apologise."

"Well you better make it a good one cause she's not very happy with you, you are definitely not on top of her Chrismukkah list. I mean RB was mentioned."

"I didn't think it would be that big a deal….and what the hell is RB?" Ryan asked.

"RAGE BLACKOUT. I warn you, just be prepared to get your ear chewed out, big time." Seth stated while picking up the newspaper that Ryan had folded over. On the page that Ryan was trying to hide was a photo of Marissa and Jake walking in to the hotel. Marissa was looking straight ahead and Jake was looking lovingly at her.

"So…" Seth said as he looked down at the photo.

"So what?" Ryan replied.

"Do you think there is anything going on between the two of them? Even I have to admit he's a pretty good looking guy – even though he is a creep."

"Nuh. I saw Marissa give him a put down the other day. I think she knows how to handle herself. I'm sure her asshole radar has had plenty of work out with the people in her industry."

"Okay so if that's the case then when are you going to make a move?" Seth enquired.

"What are you talking about?" Ryan replied.

"On Marissa, man. Don't try to pretend that you aren't still hung up on her. It's sooo obvious."

"Great – just what I needed to hear. Not that it matters anyway. As if she would ever be interested in someone like me, when she could have anyone she wants. I mean look at her man – she is absolutely perfect what chance would I have." Ryan replied looking disappointed as he spoke.

"Well from what Summer tells me, and from the way she was acting last night I'd say every chance, she is very interested but she thinks you are avoiding her. She said if you really didn't want to see her then she would just stay away. Is that what you want? One of you is going to have to take the first step or you will never get together."

"I'm just scared. I mean you know I really like this girl but if I try to make a move and she knocks me back then ………., I've barely recovered from last time – I don't know if I am prepared to risk getting hurt like that again. It didn't turn out too well before." Ryan stated looking at the photo again.

"Well for one thing that was 7 years ago and I think you have both changed a bit since then. You can tell from the way she looks when she is talking about you, that she maybe has some regrets about before. And number 2 what have you got to lose – I mean think what you may be missing out on."

" Hmm. I'll think about it, but even if I wanted to do something it is just so hard. There are always so many people around watching. How do you try to start something off when you are always surrounded by lots of other people taking way to much interest in what you are doing. I mean I can't even take her out to a restaurant without there being lots of people around asking for autographs and photos either of her or of me."

"Well maybe you need to think of a way you can be alone with her and then see if the chemistry is still there". Seth suggested. "And I wouldn't wait too long. I mean even if she isn't interested in Jake, a girl like that is going to attract a lot of interest. Don't leave it too long or someone else might make a move on her."

"I'll think about it. Okay…… Now go and let me get some work done and I promise I'll ring Summer and beg forgiveness."

"Okay see ya…and Good Luck .. You're gonna need it… Ho hum my work here is done." Seth sang as he closed the door behind him.

---

Ryan picked up his phone and dialled Summer's number.

"Yeah I'm waiting?" she answered knowing it was Ryan.

"Summer I'm so, so sorry. Would flowers make it better?" Ryan smiled. He knew Summer couldn't stay angry for long.

"No. They wouldn't. Not unless you were sending them to Marissa."

"Why would I send flowers to Marissa?"

"Because she's the one who was most upset about you not turning up. Your apology would be better directed to her. Tell me truthfully, were you really busy or did you just not want to see her?"

"I really was tied up at work. You can ask Annabel. She was here as well."

"I'm sure she was. I bet that made her day."

"Summer…….."

"What Ryan? You must be blind to not realise that girl is completely infatuated with you. But right now I'm more concerned about what my friend feels for you and how you are hurting her."

"It was nothing about her personally, it was just work."

"Yeah well I'll give you her number and you can try and convince her of that."

"Do I really need to? I can't believe she really cared one way or the other." Ryan stated trying to avoid having to talk to Marissa.

"Well for what ever reason she does care and you owe her an apology."

"But surely you could just tell her. She'd believe it if it came from you."

"No way boy. You're on your own for this one. And you'd better do it and soon or you can forget me cooking dinner for you ever again."

"I really can't talk you out of it?"

"Nope. As Mr Nike would say JUST DO IT OR ELSE. Actually I added the last bit but you know what I mean."

"Yeah. Okay give me her number and I'll call her….. but I'm sure you're making way too much out of this. I'm sure she couldn't care less."

---

Marissa reached for her phone but didn't recognise the number. Scared that Jake might have some how got her number she answered hesitantly.

"Hello"

"Marissa?"

"Ryan?"

"Uh yeah. I hope you don't mind me calling you at work."

"No. Its fine I just….. didn't know you had my number."

"Um …. Summer gave it to me. I hope that's alright?"

"Yeah sure." She hesitated wondering what he had called for.

"I um… just wanted to apologise for not turning up last night. Something came up at work and I couldn't get away."

"That's okay…… It was just……I was just… worried that you may have stayed away because I was there." Figuring she may as well know one way or the other if she was the real reason.

"No nothing like that. It was just by the time I got away, I figured it was too late to drop by or though I gather you partied on without me."

"Yeah. I'm feeling a little worse for wear because of it."

"Well I don't want to hold you up but I just want to say sorry and I will catch up with you sometime. I promise I'll make it up to you."

"Okay. I'll look forward to it".

Ryan put the phone back down and continued to stare at the photo in front of him. Was she really looking forward to seeing him? He doubted it, but she had sounded genuine. He sat thinking of what he should do.

Ryan knew the reason he was having trouble concentrating on work at the moment was because he kept thinking about her so he guessed he needed to at least try to see if there was still any feeling left between them. If there wasn't then maybe he could just put any thought of her behind him and move on, once and for all. He thought back to Seth's advice about trying to be alone with her and wondered how he could make that happen and he had to work out if he could even get up the nerve to ask her to go out with him in the first place. He turned to his laptop and checked his schedule for the next couple of days then picked up his phone.

"Annabel. Could you reschedule my 4 o'clock meeting tomorrow afternoon until sometime next week. Something else has come up."

"Certainly Ryan. I'll do it straight away." Annabel replied thinking it was very unlike Ryan to cancel a meeting. She wondered what could possibly be more important than work.

---

Late Friday afternoon Ryan decided to stop by the set of "Fashion Victim". Sometimes it came in handy that he had security clearance for the whole studio lot. He walked in the back of the set and instantly noticed Marissa rehearsing. Ryan continued to watch as Marissa finished her scene. He couldn't take his eyes off her as he let his mind wander trying to think of ideas of what he could do to try to find out if there really was a chance for the two of them.

Seth walked up behind Ryan "Hey man."

"Hi. What are you doing here?" Ryan asked surprised to see him.

"Just filling in time waiting for Summer, but more importantly what are YOU doing here?" Seth smiled waiting for an answer he already knew.

"I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I would drop past and try to make amends for the other night."

"In the neighbourhood hey…I don't think I believe you but I'll let it slide." Seth smiled as he looked at Ryan watching Marissa's every move.

Marissa had noticed Ryan and Seth standing chatting as she practised her next scene. She had been hoping after their conversation yesterday that Ryan might want to ask her out this weekend or at least spend some time with her but she had started to think that it was just wishful thinking. Summer had tried to convince her that he wasn't avoiding her. She knew he was fairly shy and that he didn't date much, so she didn't know if anything would ever happen. She wished she was one of those girls that could make the first move but she really cared about him and she was scared that if she did and he knocked her back then she didn't know if she would recover so maybe it was better to just leave it to remain as "friends". She finished the scene and made her way to her dressing room.

He watched her walk away and decided it was now or never. If he thought about it for too long he would chicken out so he said his good byes to Seth, made his way to her dressing room and knocked softly on the door.

"Come in" Marissa replied and was surprised when Ryan slowly entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Uh Hi! " was all he could get out once he took a look at her – she always seemed to take his breathe away making it even more difficult for him to talk to her. He really needed to pull himself together or this would be over before it even began.

"Hi' Marissa replied happily; wondering what he was doing here. "Looking forward to the weekend?"

"Um yeah sure but I was wondering if you were busy tonight or not?" he managed to get out.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"Well maybe we could get a drink if you've finished for the day or a meal….. whatever you're feeling up for. I wanted to apologise for Wednesday night and thought maybe we could catch up now …… but if you have other things planned then that's okay…..I was in the area and just thought I'd check" he said while keeping an eye on her for her reaction, scared that she would be looking for a nice way to tell him no.

She knew the cast were getting together for drinks and she really should go with them "Uuh …I." she stammered.

He noticed her hesitation and could feel the half smile on his face start to fade. Thinking to himself that he was right the first time – she really didn't want to spend time with him. "Look its okay if you don't want to. It's no big deal." He turned to make his way to the door.

"No. Don't go. I'd love to come with you….. I just have to get out of something else first." She had missed him too much and for too long to miss the opportunity to spend time with him. She would much rather go with Ryan than hang around with the rest of the cast. She started to wonder if this was a platonic "friend " type request or maybe something more …. but she wasn't sure how she could tell.

"Uh sure - Is it just us or are other people going as well?" Marissa asked.

"Well I can ask Seth and Summer if you like, but …."

"No. I mean if you haven't asked them yet then lets just make it the two of us – I've managed to see plenty of them this week and I'm sure they'd like to spend some time alone. " Marissa replied quickly her mind already thinking of the possibilities.

"That's great" he said barely able to keep the smile off his face. "So when do you want to go?"

"Um are we talking dinner or just a drink?"

"Whatever you'd prefer" he said. Little did he know that all sorts of things ran through her mind but spending time with him was definitely at the top of her preferences.

"Well, it's just, if it's dinner then I really should go back to the hotel and change but if we are just going for a drink and jeans are okay then I could be ready in about 10 minutes – I just need to get cleaned up and get this gunk off my face and I'll be ready. And I need to make a call to let someone know about my change of plans."

"Sounds great. How about we start with the drink and you can always go and change if you want to go further." he added as he turned and made his way back to the door.

"I definitely want to go further" she muttered and then looked at him wondering if he had heard her. I mean she may have been thinking it but how did it come out of her mouth.

"Please feel free." he replied as he felt himself go a shade of pink as he closed the door. All he could think of as he walked away from her dressing room was… did she really say that. I mean was she just pulling his leg or is there really a chance for them?

---